ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. charge — in control
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. charge — a price
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cap — a lid
  8. ball — a great time
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. charge — electricity
  12. cap — of ice
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. ball — a dance
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. chest — of your body
  20. cap — a hat
  21. pit — a hole
  22. saw — the tool
  23. chest — of your body
  24. pit — in a race

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com